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CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
By: Michael Mike
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has dismissed the new methodology employed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in determining the level of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria, describing it as “an act deliberately antithetical to Nigeria’s lived reality.”
CSJ’s statement was in response to the NBS’s release of its latest Nigeria Labour Force Statistics (NLFS) Report, which showed that unemployment in Nigeria fell from 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023.
CSJ rejected the NBS’s findings, arguing that they are not supported by the increasing unemployment in Nigeria since the last report in 2020 which reported 33.3% unemployment rate in Nigeria.
It said since 2020, Nigeria’s economic challenges have increased with galloping inflation, factory closures, rural dwellers who have been prevented by insecurity from planting and harvesting and a public sector with a moratorium on new recruitments.
The Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere said “the whole basis of a job report is to help the government to determine whether its plans, policies and laws geared at reducing unemployment are achieving the desired milestones, adding that: “What is the point of a job report that tells the government that more Nigerians are employed when it is a clear and notorious fact that unemployment is increasing?”
“The NBS is counting people who are working for at least one hour in a week or who are self-employed in low-productivity activities as ‘employed,’” said Onyekpere. “This is not an accurate reflection of the reality of the Nigerian labor market.”
He decried that the report t: “Simply to satisfy a fad, it is a waste of tax payers money to produce a report that adds no value to the Nigerian people and their economy,” stressing that CSJ believes that these statistics do not in any way reflect the prevailing economic challenges experienced by Nigerians, especially in recent times.
Before the latest report, Nigeria’s last unemployment data was released in the fourth quarter of 2020, leaving a substantial gap in our understanding of the employment situation. CSJ had previously emphasized the urgency for the NBS to provide up-to-date employment data for the years 2021 and 2022.
The statement said CSJ recognizes that a robust job report serves as a crucial tool for governmental planning and policy evaluation. However, the reported unemployment rate of 4.1% in the NLFS raises serious concerns about the relevance and accuracy of the methodology and the relevance of the findings to the lived experiences of Nigerians.
“This reported rate is incongruent with the economic challenges faced by a significant percentage of the population. “We call on the NBS to reconsider its methodology and ensure that it accurately captures the full spectrum of employment challenges faced by Nigerians. It is essential that job reports reflect the realities and provide an honest assessment of the economic landscape. Only through accurate data can the government develop effective strategies that deliver on its promises and address the pressing issues facing our nation,” Onyekpere said.
CSJ also called on the government to ignore the report, take steps to create more decent jobs and to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
A phone shop operator, Idris Yakubu, was on Tuesday stabbed to death during a robbery at his shop and residence in Dakibiyu Village, Abuja.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. when a group of unidentified assailants reportedly broke into his premises, stole several mobile phones, and fatally stabbed him on the left side of his back.
He was later rushed to the Gwarinpa General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed him dead on arrival.
Sources close to the family said the assailants targeted valuable phones before attacking Yakubu, who was believed to have tried to resist the robbery.
Upon receipt of a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Jabi Division swiftly dispatched a patrol team to the scene.
A police sources said that the victim was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead on arrival.
The family of the deceased requested the release of the body for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, and the request was granted after due documentation.
The sources said investigation is ongoing to recover the stolen phones and track down the fleeing suspects.
Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
By: Zagazola Makama
A 25-year-old man, Usman Mohammed, has died after being stabbed during a confrontation over his girlfriend in the Barikin-Sale area of Minna, Niger State.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred late on Monday night when Usman went to visit his girlfriend, Halima Usman, at Deeper Life Upper Base in Barikin-Sale.
While they were seated outside chatting, three young men identified as Barafi, Ayya, and another yet to be identified approached them and allegedly attempted to woo Halima.
According to eyewitnesses, the men offered Halima ₦5,000 to go out with them, which she declined. The situation escalated when the men became violent, leading to one of them stabbing Usman in the back with a dagger.
Usman was rushed to the General Hospital in Minna, where he was admitted for treatment. However, he died from his injuries in the early hours of Tuesday at about 2:30 a.m.
One of the suspects, identified as Ahmed Mohammed, has reportedly been apprehended, while efforts are ongoing to locate the other two individuals believed to be involved in the attack.
Police officers visited the scene and took photographs of the deceased before depositing the corpse at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.
One of the suspects, Ahmed Mohammed, has been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining culprits currently at large.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
Boko Haram terrorists attack herder, rustle 28 livestock in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked a herder and rustled livestock in Burum Village bush area of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state, police authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the incident occurred on June 9 at about 6:00 p.m. when the assailants, armed with machetes, attacked 20-year-old Riskuwa Ibrahim while he was grazing his herd.
The father of the victim, Ibrahim Buba, reported the incident stating that his son sustained grievous injuries to the head, hand, and back during the attack.
The terrorists reportedly made away with twenty-eight (28) sheep to an unknown destination.
He was rushed to the hospital where he was recovering.
Boko Haram terrorists attack herder, rustle 28 livestock in Borno
Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
Bandits abduct eight in Zamfara’s Shinkafi LGA
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